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INVERURIE’S

WAR TROPHIES

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January 8, 1915, p 7 – Aberdeen Daily Journal – SOUVENIRS FROM THE FRONT Private John Ewen, Mill Road, Port Elphinstone, has sent home several souvenirs to a lady friend in Inverurie, including Princess Mary’s box of cigarettes and pipe, several German coins, and a clip, containing three German cartridges.

March 11, 1919, p 4 – Aberdeen Daily Journal – WAR OFFICE “INSULT” TO INVERURIE – Trophies that do not Please [1] [2] A letter was read from the War Office Trophies Committee, offering to the burgh captured damaged German machine gun, a machine gun ammunition box, and ammunition belt. Taylor said was an insult to offer them this. Treasurer MacGregor moved that the trophies be not accepted. The Provost said "if they did not accept the trophies, they would not get the chance of any. Taylor said they could be put into the Museum. Councillor Young—lt is an insult offering us this, especially to the Royal Burgh Inverurie. Without further comment the trophies were accepted.

April 20, 1920, p 4 - Dundee Courier [1] – CAPTURED GUNS THROWN INTO RIVER DON The German howitzer gun and two machine guns which have been stationed at the Drill Hall, Inverurie, for some time were taken to the River Don and thrown in by a large crowd, principally composed of ex-service men.

German Howitzer gun chassis in River Don [3]

May 14, 1920, p 6 – Aberdeen Daily Journal [1] – INVERURIE’S GUNS – Forgue Offer to Purchase them “Where they lie” An echo of the gun-dumping episode at Inverurie on the 17

th April was heard at the meeting of Inverurie

Town Council last night, when an offer of purchase was made for the German field gun howitzer, and machine guns which were assigned to the burgh as war trophies. Although the general public of Inverurie

concurred, if they did not participate, in the throwing of the guns over the Bridge of Don at Port Elphinstone, thus indicating that they had no wish for such souvenirs of war, the Council were unanimous in refusing to part with the guns which, while under their custody, are still lying in mid-stream. The town clerk (Mr John Kellas) read a letter from Mr James Mackintosh, general merchant, Forgue, who offered to buy the guns taking delivery “where they lie.” Provost Skinner – does he knew where they lie? (Laughter). Councillor Young said the “Daily Journal” made that well enough known. He considered that the guns were of no use to them, and as it was evident they were not wanted in the burgh they should accept the offer. Provost Skinner – We could hardly sell a gift. We have some sense of decency. The letter was allowed to lie on the table.

German Gun in River Don below bridge [3]

July 21, 1920, p 2 - Evening Telegraph [1] – GERMAN GUNS TAKEN FROM DON AT INVERURIE

The two German field guns and two machine guns which were dumped in the Don at Inverurie some time ago have been removed by Mr Alexander Nicol, traction engine owner. One has been placed in front of the Drill Hall, in Jackson Street, and the other at the

rear of the Town Hall.

June 9, 1925, p 4 – Aberdeen Press and Journal – INVERURIE’S WAR TROPHY – “Dirty, Filthy, Ugly” – Proposal to dispose of German Gun [1]

Inverurie’s war trophy – a large German gun – which has lain ingloriously behind the Town House for some time, was the subject of a lively discussion at the meeting of Inverurie Town Council last night. It was

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only by the casting vote of Provost Taylor, who presided, that the proposal to dispose of the gun was defeated. Baillie Young said that when the Town Hall Committee inspected the building for repairs, they had a look at the German gun that was dumped at the back of the Town Hall, and he thought it appealed to all of them that it was nothing but lumber and a disgrace lying there. It was up to the Town Council to do something with this gun, and he was quite indifferent as to how they disposed of it. They could sell it if they cared as old scrap iron, or send it back to the War office – to Sir Joynson-Hicks, perhaps. It might be useful to him to chase the Communists all over the country. It might scare them away. “Council Ashamed of It” The patriots and heroes who fought in the Great War showed what they thought of this German gun when it landed in Inverurie. They took it and ran it into the Don. He thought it was stupid of the Town Council to take it out of the Don – if they valued it as a war trophy – and dump it at the back of the town house, where it was not seen by the public. It was an insult to the donors who gave it to the town Council if they thought no more of that splendid weapon of modern civilisation that to dump it there. It was very easy to put it in some public place for inspection. As far as he could see, the Town Council were ashamed of the dirty, filthy, ugly thing, and that was the reason why they had not the courage to display it before the public in honour of those who fought for us. Other town Councils were disposing of certain war trophies, and he thought they might do the same. He had a postcard from a dealer saying that if the Town Council wanted to get rid of it, he would take it away. He had taken away others in Aberdeenshire. Councillor Runcie seconded, and said that if the gun were taken away, it would improve the appearance of the Town House. Treasurer Valentine moved that they take no action meantime. In a short time he would be able to move another motion. Baillie Diack seconded. Provost Taylor said that the town Council of another town proposed to dispose of their war trophies, and there was an indignation meeting of ex-service men. Above Pagan Ideas

Dean of Build Buchan said that he was in favour of getting rid of the ugly article complained that it was in the way, and he for other reasons. The burgh surveyor wanted it out of there, and he (Dean of Guild Buchan) thought it was high time. He thought they should be above pagan ideas of that kind – keeping an old trophy and gloating over a defeated enemy. If it were their old friend of Sevastopol, he would not agree to disposing of it. Treasurer Valentine – Why? Dean of Guild Buchan – It’s a relic of a by-gone age. Treasurer Valentine – And will this gun not be a relic of a by-gone age to future generations. Dean of Guild Buchan – It never will!

Treasurer Valentine – Why not? Dean of Guild Buchan – It has not the appearance of it. On the vote being taken, there was an equal division, four voting for the motion and four for the amendment. Provost Taylor gave his casting vote in favour of taking no action meantime.

August 11, 1925, p 4 – Aberdeen Press and Journal – INVERURIE’S GERMAN GUN – Councillors Want it Scrapped What was described as the “notorious German gun,” the question of flooding, and a 10 mile limit for motorists passing through the burgh, were the topics discussed at a meeting of Inverurie Town Council last night. Provost Taylor was in the chair. “Scrapping” the Gun Baillie Young moved an amendment that the gun be placed in the quarry where rubbish was dumped at Port-Elphinstone. Two months ago he tabled a motion, which was lost by the casting vote of the chairman, that this notorious German gun should be got rid of either by selling it or giving it away as scrap-iron, and removed out of the burgh altogether. The site had been chosen so that the gun might be out of the public view as much as possible, and he quite understood the feelings of Councillor Davidson and Baillie Angus that they had no love for this thing, but on the other hand they had not the courage to get it scrapped and turned out of the burgh altogether. If the gun was allowed to remain there, it would become a disgusting nuisance. After all the work that had been done in connection with the bridge and beautifying and improving the amenities , did they think that by dumping the thing that it was to add to the lustre and beauty of the place? He felt very strongly that the gun would be an eyesore, especially to the war widows and mothers of the fallen and wounded. There were plenty war trophies in the burgh in wrecked and disabled humanity. Councillor Runcie seconded. From the Public Gaze Dean of Guild Buchan agreed with Baillie Young that to many in the burgh the gun was an eyesore, and should be removed from the public gaze. He moved another amendment that quite a suitable place for the gun would be at the lower end of the gas house burn, where they had been dumping rubbish. Councillor Burnett seconded. Baillie Angus understood it was to be rather an expensive business to put the gun in a decent condition, and he did not think they should spend money on it. Baillie Young – not a farthing. The Provost pointed out that the remit to the committee was to find a site for the gun, and that was the only thing before the meeting.

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Councillor Davidson was not in favour of spending money on the gun, but as it was only a question of site, that point did not arise. After further discussion, it was decided to remit the whole matter to the committee again to bring up another report.

Bibliography

[1] Thomson, DC, “British Newspaper Archive,” BrightSolid, 2014. [Online]. Available:

https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/. [Accessed May 2014].

[2] Inverurie Town Clerk, “Inverurie Town Council Minutes,” in AS/Ainv/1/1/16, 1918.

[3] Garioch Heritage Society, Inverurie, Aberdeenshire, Scotland.

[4] Inverurie Town Clerk, “Inverurie Town Council Minutes,” in AS/Aivr/1/1/17, 1920-22.